JERUSALEM — Israel kept mum on Friday on Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas' announcement that he would not seek re-election, but officials said the Jewish state is keen on the moderate remaining in office.
The government has refrained from official comment on Abbas's announcement late on Thursday that he would not stand in the Palestinian general elections he has called for January.
"This is an internal (Palestinian) affair," Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told public radio. "We don't interfere in others' internal affairs."
"But it is evident that Israel and the US are interested in a Palestinian leadership that is responsible and pragmatic," he said.
A senior Israeli official told AFP that hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sees Abbas "as a partner for peace."
"We would like to start negotiations as soon as possible with the moderate Palestinian leadership," he said, requesting anonymity.
The popular Ynet news website quoted another anonymous official as saying: "It's in Israeli interest to have Abbas stay in office."
"Netanyahu does not want Abu Mazen (Abbas) to leave," another told the Maariv newspaper. "He is careful not to embrace him too tightly, but clearly he is the candidate who is the lesser evil among the Palestinian leadership."
The left-leaning Haaretz said that Israeli President Shimon Peres had telephoned Abbas a day before the latter's announcement to try and talk him out of his decision.
"If you leave the Palestinians would lose their chance for an independent state," the daily quoted Peres telling Abbas. "The situation in the region would deteriorate. Stay, for the Palestinian people's sake."
Peres's spokeswoman declined to comment on the report.
Most of the Israeli press however dismissed Abbas's announcement as a tactical manoeuvre meant to pressure the US on the issue of settlements.
"The Abu Mazen Threat Show," said a headline in Maariv.
"This announcement is a tactical step, aimed first and foremost at the Americans," an Israeli official told the mass-selling Yediot Aharonot daily.
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